Davon Godchaux Commits to LSU: What 4-Star DE Brings to LSU

Less than two weeks after knee surgery brought Davon Godchaux's final high school football season to a frustrating end, the 4-star defensive end announced where his college career will begin. The 6'4", 265-pound prospect from Plaquemine, La., committed to LSU on Monday, according to Shea Dixon of 247Sports.

Listed as the nation's No. 9 strong-side defensive end prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings, Godchaux had plenty of options at the next level. He selected his home state school over offers from Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

I am on board and committed to LSU. It feels really good. I wanted my family to be able to come watch me in college, and I also wanted to be somewhere that I could win and get ready for the NFL. I know I'll have that at LSU.

Godchaux also sited the school's proximity to his home in Plaquemine as a major motivation to commit.

"I just felt that LSU was the place I needed to be," he told Rivals.com reporter William Weathers. "My mom could come to my games since it's closer to home and my family could see me."

Godchaux is an ideal 3-4 defensive end with enough versatility to fill roles throughout LSU's front line. His frame leaves room for more weight, and expect him to pack some on in preparation for battling in SEC trenches.

The Tigers could utilize him in the 3-technique position, where he'd have the chance to do damage as an interior pass-rusher. He has exceptional hands and uses his quickness to shed tacklers.

Of course, LSU must now wait and see how Godchaux emerges from a serious knee procedure. The Tigers are likely to take things slow with him once he arrives on campus and becomes acclimated with the team's training staff.

LSU coach Les Miles has done an excellent job keeping many of Louisiana's premier players in the state. Godchaux is the ninth Louisiana product to join the Tigers' 2014 recruiting class, which currently includes 15 players.

247Sports considers LSU's class as the 10th-best in the nation. Godchaux hopes the Tigers are able to add more talent in the coming months and bring in a special group of freshmen next summer.

"This is going to be a great class, and I'm happy to be a part of it," he told Dixon. "Now I would like to see some other guys decide to shut things down. Tony Brown, Malachi Dupre, Hootie Jones, Leonard Fournette and all those guys, they could stick around and make this a national championship-type team, for sure."

Godchaux projects as an outstanding run-stuffer on the outside edge and can get after the quarterback with an array of rushing moves. With his knee rehabilitation underway, Baton Rouge awaits.